At the call, the teachers began guiding everyone toward the sixth bus.

Without breaking stride, Lily stepped forward, kicked Raziel Phoenix aside, and calmly sat next to Ray.

Raziel Phoenix could only glare before settling beside Violetta—only for Veyron to lift him up and steal that seat too.

"You—!" Raziel Phoenix fumed, but facing Veyron's strength, he had no choice but to retreat.

He slumped down beside Alfred instead.

The moment he sat, countless hostile gazes stabbed into him from all directions.

I don't want to sit here either!

He immediately tried to stand.

"Sit," Alfred said coldly.

Raziel Phoenix froze, utterly miserable.

The siblings sat directly behind Ray and Lily. Veyron stared at Lily's back, a complicated expression forming on his face.

After his defeat, resentment filled him at first. But over time, Lily's image had begun appearing in his thoughts more and more frequently.

So young, yet so powerful.

With such a martial soul, how terrifying would she be once fully grown?

Veyron was considered a genius within West Ocean Academy, but that meant little beyond its walls. In a year, he would leave for an advanced academy, chasing his dream of becoming a battle armor master.

But that path was brutal.

It demanded talent, time, resources, and unwavering focus. At seventeen, though his potential was solid, he wasn't sure whether he truly had what it took.

And somehow, the image of a silver-haired girl from class zero refused to leave his mind.

If he couldn't obtain a suit of battle armor for himself, then becoming a mecha pilot would be the only realistic path left.

There was a reason battle armor masters were revered as the strongest. The road to becoming one was brutally difficult, and very few ever reached the end.

The chances of failure were astronomical.

To successfully craft battle armor, one had to complete a long chain of steps: refining rare metals, forging them, designing the armor, crafting each component, and finally maintaining the finished set. Compared to mechas, the hardship multiplied severalfold.

For a mecha, one only needed to hire capable designers and craftsmen. Battle armor was different. One had to personally participate in its creation, carving a path uniquely suited to themselves so that the armor could truly become an extension of their body.

That alone eliminated most people.

Even among those who persevered, many battle armor masters spent over ten years painstakingly forging a complete set. Worse still, by the time the armor was finished, their cultivation might have advanced so much that the completed armor no longer suited them. At that point, the only option was to start over.

The process was torment.

If too much time was devoted to armor crafting, cultivation would inevitably lag behind. When that happened, a battle armor master could end up weaker than a mecha pilot. And mechas themselves were no joke. Their immense size and firepower gave them terrifying combat versatility.

For these reasons, Veyron had chosen to specialize in mecha control. When he entered an advanced academy, he would walk the path of a mecha pilot.

I might not have much hope of becoming a battle armor master… but what about her?

His thoughts drifted back to Lily.

She already had two rings at ten years old and would definitely reach three rings before fifteen. Compared to her potential, his own felt insignificant.

_

Strangely, he didn't feel jealousy. Instead, confusion churned within him, emotions tangled and unclear.

Ray leaned against the window, eyes closed, trying to calm his restless heart. Rachel's words echoed in his mind. She had already been powerful with two rings, and now she had three, yet she was only aiming for the top eight.

They're all so strong… but what about class zero?

Among their core lineup, he was the only one with a single ring. Though their teamwork was excellent and he trusted his own strength, the gap in cultivation was undeniable. Some differences simply couldn't be bridged in a short time.

And yet, the highest-ranked teams would receive rewards.

Like Ray, Lily sat quietly with her eyes closed.

The atmosphere inside the bus was tense. Some students whispered in low voices, others spoke boldly. Gradually, the bus left West Ocean Square behind and sped out of the city.

Once they entered the highway, a subtle optimism spread among the passengers.

The soul highway combined maglev and soul technology, allowing buses to travel safely at speeds up to half that of a soul train. For shorter distances, it was more practical than rail.

Ray opened his eyes and gazed at the scenery rushing past.

To the east, the ocean stretched endlessly. The highway hugged the coastline, and the vast azure sea unfurled beside him, easing his heart and soothing his spirit.

Memories surfaced unbidden.

He remembered walking along the beach with Vivienne, holding her hand as they watched the sunrise, collected seashells, and, when luck favored them, caught large crabs to roast and eat together.

"Vivienne…" Ray murmured softly.

"Hm?" Lily turned toward him in surprise. "Ray, you—"

He shook his head with a faint smile. "I'm fine. I was just thinking about my little sister. I don't know how she's doing right now, or if she's happy. If she knew I became a Soul Master, she'd definitely be happy for me."

Lily nodded gently. "Of course she would. Do you want some water?" She pulled out a bottle from her backpack.

"Huh? Sure. Thanks." Ray unscrewed the cap and took a few mouthfuls. The water was pure and pleasantly warm, easing both his throat and his heart.

After he handed the bottle back, Lily took a few sips herself, not even pausing to consider that he had just drunk from it.

Ray stared at her, momentarily stunned.

Sunlight streamed through the window, illuminating her profile and giving her an almost crystalline purity.

She's… really pretty.

Lily tilted her head, smiling innocently. "What are you staring at?"

Ray quickly pulled the curtain shut, plunging their seats into shade. "It's too bright. Bad for your eyes."

She placed the bottle back into his hands and leaned her head against his shoulder. "I'm sleepy. Let me rest for a bit, okay?"

Ray froze.

You're already leaning on me… how am I supposed to say no?

Her breathing soon evened out, a faint smile forming on her lips. Leaning on him seemed to bring her genuine comfort.

Resigned to being her pillow, Ray felt his own eyelids grow heavy. Despite the drawn curtains, warmth and coziness lingered.

Before he knew it, he fell asleep.

The journey from West Ocean City to Skysea City took around four hours.

Ray slept through the entire trip and likely would've continued sleeping if not for Raziel Phoenix's voice.

"You two really enjoyed yourselves, huh? Sleeping the whole way!" Raziel Phoenix grinned mischievously, his gaze flicking between Ray and the just-awakened Lily.

Lily stood up and stretched, then turned back to pinch Ray's shoulder lightly. "Is it numb?"

He shook his head. "No, it's fine."

That was… an amazing nap.

Circulating his soul power subconsciously, Ray suddenly noticed something different. His soul power flowed faster, smoother.

His heart jolted.

I broke through!

Rank 17.

He stared blankly for a moment. He had struggled with that bottleneck for days, yet somehow broke through in his sleep.

From rank 11 to rank 17 in a single year.

Even with an average foundation, such progress was astonishing.

Lily naturally took the lead as they disembarked, with Ray and Raziel Phoenix following behind. Watching her back, a warmth filled his chest.

Partner? Little sister?

He didn't know why, but Lily's kindness reminded him of Vivienne.

Skysea City, like West Ocean City, sat along the west coast, boasting breathtaking scenery and the continent's largest harbors. The Federation's navy was stationed just outside the city. From afar, the silhouette of a massive cruiser anchored at sea was visible.

Because of its military presence, Skysea City ranked first among the eastern coastal cities. Its strategic importance rivaled that of major inland hubs.

Ordinary citizens entered military service at eighteen. For those within the Skysea Alliance, Skysea City's navy was the preferred choice.

Ray still had many years before that. As a Soul Master, he also had some leeway regarding service. And as a fourth-rank blacksmith, he technically belonged to the elite.

For now, Skysea City didn't seem drastically different from West Ocean City. But as they neared the city center, towering skyscrapers came into view, rising past the clouds. The magnificent harbor passed by, lined with advanced facilities and unfamiliar equipment.

The air smelled of commerce.

This was Skysea City.

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